How To Cover Health Care During Vacation in Finland

How To Cover Health Care During Vacation in Finland

A beautiful destination for summer and winter holidays, Finland has so much to offer to discerning travelers. But before you go, it is advisable to invest in a comprehensive travel insurance. Although Finland is in the EU and honors reciprocal health agreements with the UK, there are limits to what is covered. Here we outline what is provided by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and why comprehensive travel insurance should be reserved.
Accessing Health Care in Finland

How To Cover Health Care During Vacation in Finland

If you require non-emergency treatment while on vacation in Finland, you should go to a local city health center, where you can see a doctor, dentist or even a radiographer. Once you find the city health center, you have to make an appointment, which you need to get to or face a 39.60 no-show fee. Your EHIC card entitles you to free health care, but small donations may be required depending on the municipality that is your health center. Visits to a doctor, for example, can cost between € 16.10 and € 22.10, depending on whether the visit is a regular or out-of-hours one. This includes laboratory services and x-rays as well.

Under the age of 18 is treated free of charge, unless it is treated personally. In this case payment is required up front and only comprehensive travel insurance that allows you to refund the money paid.

Hospitals in Finland are almost all owned in the city, but if you prefer to receive personal care, there are several private hospitals as well. Of course, your EHIC does not cover personal care in Finland unless the care provided is clinically necessary, and you can even claim back 20-30% of the cost. If you find yourself in this position, you must file a replacement claim within six months and the claim must be submitted to the Finnish government’s social insurance authority, known as Kela. How To Cover Health Care During Vacation in Finland

The recipe is paid when you receive it at the pharmacy but you can claim the fee again as long as you keep the receipt for presentation at your local Kela office.

Accessing Dental Care in Finland

If you need dental treatment while in Finland, as long as you have a valid EHIC, you will pay the same fee as a resident. Initial visits usually cost around € 10, and then extra care is charged depending on what is needed. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will tend to cover all your dental care, but check the policy before you travel.

And visit the hospital?

Unsolicited hospital visits in Finland require physician referrals. The word for hospitals in Finland is sairaala. As long as your EHIC enters and hospitals are not private homes you will be able to benefit from minimal maintenance costs, as did the Finns. Comprehensive travel insurance, on the other hand, may cover the entire cost of any treatment, whether you are in a private hospital or a public hospital.

When in Finland, an EHIC is very valuable. But if you want to make sure that you’re completely covered for all the possibilities, adequate travel insurance is a wise investment.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of InsureMore, an award-winning specialist team in a global travel and comprehensive travel insurance policy. In addition to offering attractive offers for travel insurance, Patrick also collects and shares the best free travel competitions to help his clients get the most out of their holiday. How To Cover Health Care During Vacation in Finland